Regional policy and organizational fields in multi-level sport governance

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research Questions Broadly, we sought to explore the role of regional policy in sport institutions and understand their implications for organizational fields in multi-level sport governance systems. Our research questions were (1) how do changes in regional policy impact the way that organizational fields are structured within multi-level governance structures? and (2) how does regional policy impact sport policy implementation? Research Method We used an instrumental case study methodology of regional policy in the Province of Ontario. Data were collected using document analysis. We collected 88 policy documents produced between 1995 and 2021. Data were analyzed using a critical policy analysis approach. Results and Findings Our findings demonstrate the ways that administrative arrangements and the ideas and beliefs underpinning regional policy had important implications for sport policy implementation in Ontario. The location of sport in successive provincial administrations had implications for the expected role of sport in the province. Ideas and beliefs related to what regional government should do, and who should be responsible for the delivery of services also impacted the way that sport was delivered in the province through the period studied. Implications Our work examines the agency of regional policymakers in the structuration and change of organization fields in sport institutions. We also critically examine the linkages between organizations in multi-level sport governance. Future work is required to understand the range of regional pressures that impact sport policy implementation in multi-level sport governance systems.